Moving the league's media day festivities to the ESPN Zone in Baltimore paid off with a bigger media contingent that managed to make it to Manhattan for last year's gathering at the CSTV studios.

Credit a more central location and the interest of the Washington D.C. area media for the increased showing. As one league official pointed out, last season's event drew no local media. Of course with no team in metro New York City, why would it?

With Navy and American both located close to Baltimore, it was a natural improvement.

The only downside was the presence of just five players, including two -- Abe Badmus and Donald Brown -- from Bucknell. Also on hand were Jose Olivero of Lehigh, Navy's Greg Sprink and Lafayette's Kerry Kenny, who was probably on hand more due to his being the league's representative on the NCAA Student Athlete Advisory Committee than his basketball prowess.

A walk-on, former team manager, Kenny's highlight line in the sheet handed out by league mentioned his 71.4 percent free throw shooting in 14 games last season. There is not a whole lot more on Kenny's stat sheet to write about. Since making the team as a sophomore, he has played a grand total of 73 minutes, and despite his being one of the Leopards three senior tri-captains, he won't likely get much of a chance to pad his numbers this season.

At some point this season, Kenny's walk-on odyssey should make for an interesting feature story. You have to respect a kid willing to work that hard, just to be a part of a team.

At media day, though, a guy that doesn't play on a team that is not expected to contend is not exactly what the writers on hand are looking for. But that is the way things go in the Patriot League. Coaches often pick a player to bring along based on their class schedule, not their stat sheet. Last year Bucknell's Pat Flannery brought then-junior Chris McNaughton along, leaving his senior co-captains, Kevin Bettencourt and Charles Lee, in Lewisburg. The reason: McNaughton did not have any classes on Thursdays first semester last year.

No doubt similar reasons explained why no players were on hand from American, Army and Colgate.

It would be easy for media members to complain about the lack of the league's star attractions. But to do so would be to admit you just don't get what this league is all about. There will be plenty of chances to talk to the players during the season, and they will miss enough classes while traveling for games.

We spent our time talking with Olivero and Sprink. Look for features on both in the not-to-distant future. We didn't spend much time at all with coaches, since not much has changed since we interviewed them all for Blue Ribbon. We will borrow from those interviews, and/or catch up with them closer to the opening of the season for our team-by-team previews.

Here are a few notes from the morning's festivities:

Official picks: The official league prognostications were announced at media day this morning in Baltimore. Here's how the voting by the league's coaches and sports information directors sees the league shaking out this season:

1. Bucknell 96 total points (12 first place votes)
2.Holy Cross 86 (3)
3.American 70 (1)'
4.Lehigh 64
5.Colgate 48
6.Lafayette 35
7.Navy 31
8.Army 18

Player honors: In voting by the same folks:
Preseason Player of the Year: Chris McNaughton, Bucknell

Preseason All-League:
Keith Simmons, Holy Cross
Jose Olivero, Lehigh
Torey Thomas, Holy Cross
Andre Ingram, American
McNaughton

Holy Cross' health: Chatted up Ralph Willard for a quick update on the Crusaders injury situation. Here's the skinny on some of HC's walking wounded:

Keith Simmons: Simmons is still having some cramping issues, but nowhere near as severe as last season. The preseason all-league pick is no longer suffering from the full body cramps that plagued him last season and thus far in the preseason, his cramp problems have been "manageable."

Pat Doherty: Willard said Doherty, who missed almost all of last season with foot problems, is currently around 80 percent, but he is able to play.

Lawrence Dixon: The sophomore's asthma was an issue last season. This season it is a bad knee. Dixon had surgery two weeks ago to repair a torn meniscus and is doubtful for the start of the season. Dixon is still doing basic rehab, like leg extensions and has not run on it yet. Willard hopes to have him back in practice in two weeks and back in the rotation by Thanksgiving.

Hamilton update: Former HC star Kevin Hamilton is playing professionally in Poland after spending time on the Boston Celtics summer league squad. Willard said Hamilton's injuries last season kept him from doing as much work in the weight room as he would have liked. NBA folks have told Willard that Hamilton might be able to play in the league down the road if he adds some strength.

Willard said that was the biggest difference between Hamilton and Bucknell grad Charles Lee, who is currently in the San Antonio Spurs training camp.

Tournament troubles: In talking about the league's men's tournament being played all on campus sites this season, league executive director Carolyn Schlie Femovich said a big reason was the league's inability "to identify a neutral site that works for the league."

After the success of the Baltimore location for media day, maybe Schlie Femovich should have walked over to the 1st Mariner Arena for a look-see. The 11,000-seat arena could probably find an opening in the Baltimore Blast's indoor soccer schedule to accommodate the league, and Baltimore would be a great destination for the league's fans.

Just a suggestion.

More from Carolyn: Schlie Femovich also announced all league games will be video Webcast on the Internet this season.

We will try to get more details on how that is going to work.

MIA: Army coach Jim Crews was the only head coach not present. Assistant Clay Nunley filled in admirably for Crews, who was attending a memorial for an individual Nunley described as "close to the program."

Check back later (or in the morning) for a few coaches' quotes and observations.

RELATED LINK: AP: Bucknell relishes role as Patriot League favorite